Eastern Vo-tech Wants Details On Switch To 3-year Program

April 10, 1987|by BRYAN HAY, The Morning Call

After a lengthy discussion, the Eastern Northampton County Vocational- Technic al School Operating Committee last night recommended that a panel of area superintendents give the board its recommendations to change the vo- tech from a two-year to a three-year program.

The action was sparked by a Wednesday night meeting of the vo-tech's Local Advisory Committee, which recommended that the Eastern Northampton County Vo- Tech return to a three-year program to combat low enrollment. The advisory committee is composed of local educators, business people and tradespeople.

Paul Braden, a member of the advisory committee, said last night that by making the vo-tech program three years, students would not shuttle back and forth between their home school and the vo-tech. He said students then wouldn't face the stigma of being vo-tech students and that "recruitment is much easier on the tenth-grade level."

The advisory committee also recommended that related mathematics and English courses be taught at the vo-tech. Currently, all academic courses are taught in the home schools during the students' sophomore year.

The sophomore year of vo-tech was eliminated in September 1985 after an advisory committee study proposed that academic courses be taught in the respective high schools, according to Dr. Wilford Ottey, superintendent of records.

Although most of the operating committee supported the change, some questions concerning curriculum were raised.

Operating committee member George Seifert of Nazareth asked how a one- or two-year course could be run if the school operates under a three-year program.

Ottey said the three-year plan would be "open ended" for course exceptions.

Regarding the advisory committee's stand on teaching "related" English courses, Ottey took a stronger position.

"I resent English being labeled as vo-tech English," he said. "If a vo- tech student excels in English he should be able to go as far as he can. English is the same for a carpenter as it is for a physicist."

Concerning teaching mathematics in the vo-tech, Seifert supported the recommendation, saying that most students need to apply basic geometry and algebra to certain vo-tech courses. By teaching those courses in the vo-tech, he said, the student will have the opportunity to apply those skills in both the classroom and work place.

Braden added that a two-year course is not adequate to prepare a student to enter the job market, saying that numerous employers are looking for vo- tech students who have followed a three-year program. "We're going to be remiss in our responsibilities if we don't go to a three-year program," he said. "We need to provide a solid career training."

Ottey said after the meeting that the Operating Committee must get the approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Education before such a change could take place. Since student recruitment for the coming school year is complete, Ottey said no changes in the current curriculum will be made in the near future.

In other matters, the committee unanimously adopted a resolution suspending Business Manager Barry Smith. The committee did approve his severance pay. It also appointed Barbara Rasely as Operating Committee secretary at a salary of $1,200 per year.